Zion National Park – Emerald Pool Hike

on December 26, 2024

Introduction:

What? :

Emerald Pools is one of the more popular trails in Zion and there are good reasons for that. The relatively short trail is family friendly and do not involve with extremely steep climbs. The trail visits three level of pools, as well as an impressive over the edge waterfall when there is water flowing.

If you are hiking to all three pool levels, this will be 2.6 mile long out and back hike with 700ft of total elevation gain.

I consider this as an easy to moderate hike.

You can skip the climb to upper Emerald Pool and make this hike even easier.

From here the trail follow along an unpaved sandstone ledge above the river below you.

Travel Time and Milage to Zion Visitor Center:

Salt Lake City, UT: 4 hours 23 minutes, 308 miles

Las Vegas, NV: 2 hours 39 minutes, 160 miles

St Gorge, UT: 1 hour, 42 miles

Bryce Canyon: 1 hour and 50 minutes, 82 miles

Kanab, UT: 1 hour, 41 miles

Page, AZ: 2 hours 20 minutes, 116 miles

Related Blogs:

Where is the trailhead and Zion Shuttle System:

The trailhead is located along the road following the park canyon, Virgin River, at The Grotto, stop #6 on the Zion Shuttle.

This ride from the visitor center to the trailhead is approximately 30 minutes long.

Important Note as of End of 2024:

There is a Closed trail bridge at Zion Lodge (Shuttle Stop #5). To access Emerald Pools, start your hike at the Court of the Patriarchs (Shuttle Stop #4) or the more preferred location Grotto (Shuttle Stop #6).

This does not affect other trailheads or the Zion Canyon Shuttle System.

For most of the year month you can’t drive up the road that takes you the trailhead and you need to use the free shuttle service that run in the park or by riding bike up the road.

Check at the park website for exact shuttle operation dates and schedule.

You will need to park at the Visitor Center, right near the town of Springdale.

If the visitor center parking lot is full, usually happen at 9am at spring, summer and fall months, you can park at the nearby town (paid parking) and use the town shuttle to get to the visitor center or walk over.

In busy months you can have a waiting line of 30-90 minutes long for getting the shuttle, come as early as you can but expect many others to do exactly the same.

The potential for no available parking near the visitor center and the wait for shuttle must be part of your visit schedule planning.

This shuttle system is hop-on hop-off so you can use it for any stop along it route.

When hiking at the afternoon, know when the last shuttle schedule and plan to be in the shuttle station 30 minutes prior to last ride.

If you miss the last shuttle you will need to walk to the lodge and see if you can get a private transportation from there.

Google Map Link

When? :

Zion National Park is open year-round.

Spring and fall are the preferred time to visit here.

In summer temperatures are about 100f during mid-day so plan accordingly.

Summer months visit here may be disappointing. You can have very low level or no water in the waterfall or even the pool.

Spring snow melting runoff enlarges the streams and creates dramatic waterfalls.

Try to start your hike early in the morning or late afternoon, evaluate the trail climbing difficulty and your hiking ability, bring enough water with you, snacks and light food, as well use sunscreen, wear hat, sunglasses and long sleeves.

Summer also is the most crowded time of the years, Zion get several hundreds of thousands of visitors every month, this create a lot of loads on the shuttle system and trail congestion and overcrowded locations.

One of the many benefits of hiking in Zion National Park is that its canyon elevation is not high (4,000-6,000ft), and most trails are doable year-round, thanks to the typically mild weather.

Winter months are cold, the night temperatures can be below freezing, and the days are around 40-60f.

You might find snow and ice on trails.

When there are below freezing temperatures, rangers may close the trail below the waterfall to protect hikers from sliding over the ice that accumulate below the waterfall.

Due note 1:

Zion National Park enter pass costs $35 per vehicle. This pass will cover your visits to Zion for one week.

If you want you can buy a year pass for all US National Parks, that will cost you $80.

No need to pay or reserve the free park shuttle.

Due note 2:

Restrooms and water filling stations are available at the trailhead (Grotto, stop #6 on the Zion Shuttle).

Cell reception is very limited.

Due note 3:

Swimming in the pools is not permitted.

Due note 4:

Because of the rewording view and the overall low difficulty level this is one of Zion Park more popular trails.

This is crowded hike and as you will hike here there will be many other groups of people on the trail. Be patient when passing slower hikers.

Try to be here early in the morning or late at the afternoon to avoid the crowed.

Due note 5:

The trail gets the morning and mid-day sun and during summer month this can be very hot, later in the afternoon and evening it is shade by the cliffs.

Due note 6:

Avoid cliff edges, this is correct to the hike itself but especially important at Middle pools that are located just above the hanging cliff, in some sections there are protecting chains, and you should not pass them.

Due note 7:

Inside the park along the canyon road the nearest snack bar, restaurant and souvenir store is located at Zion Lodge (shuttle stop #5).

No service or other stores/food available on Zion-Mt. Carmel Road (highway 9).

My thoughts:

This is a fun hike to nice few pools.

I did it several times, during mid-day and summer month with hundreds of people on the trails and in the pools and almost no real water flow in the waterfalls it is less recommended.

When there are not a lot of people, early morning or late afternoon it is a fun hike.

I still need to visit here when there is a real/impressive water flow in the waterfall and enjoy the view of the water rushing over the edge.

The Hike:

Note: the trailhead that is located near the Historic Zion Lodge (stop #5) is close.

You must use the Grotto stop #6 on the Zion Shuttle.

The trail start by passing the park road and heading to the river direction.

Soon you will cross the large metal bridge over the Virgin River.

Here you need to start hiking in the direction of Emerald Pools, this will be left (or up), the trail heading to the right lead to Angel Landing.

After short climb the trail get to a wide ledge tat follow the mountain line into the side canyon.

Here you will walk above the river below and you will enjoy the canyon mountains on both sides, the trees in the riverbed and the canyon opening in the direction of the park visitor center.

Keep walking on the red sandstone ledge that get into the directions of the cliffs at the side canyon. At some point the Virgin River view changed into the side canyon and there are more trees around the trail.

After 0.9 mile from the trail starting point, you will reach to a large rock boulder and a trail junction.

My advice is to walk here to the Lower Emerald Pool, turn left and walk down the rock stairs between the boulders.

After a short walk down, you will see the first view of the waterfall cliff, keep walking to the right down the stairs and get behind the waterfall, under the rock ledge.

I visit here several times and the water flow in the pools and over the hanging waterfall was not so much impressive.

Probably need to come during heavy rainstorm or at spring when the snow is melting to see the waterfalls at their impressive time.

You will probably walk all the way to the other side of the cliff section, the view is impressive depending on the water flow.

Probably this hike most popular destination is the Lower Emerald Pool and its waterfall running over the cliff, but I think that the view from the middle pool is not less impressive. Also, the Upper Emerald Pool that is “hidden” below surrounding huge red-rock cliff walls from all its direction is impressive.

From Lower Emerald Pool you should walk back up to the main trail and turn left, in the direction of the Middle Emerald Pool.

Soon after you will pass a small pool and open rock section where there are trees on the right side.

The trail pass the water and keep going on over the rock on the other side.

Right after that you will see the turn right, this is the trail going up to the Upper Emerald Pool.

Keep walking and go to the Middle Emerald Pool.

Here there is a large opening to the right where you can see the view of the canyon opening and to the right there is a small pool under the tree shade.

After enjoying the view from this point, you can go back to the trailhead or walk to the direction of the Upper Pools.

During summer month this trail leading to the upper section may be close by the park rangers, this is probably done to protect the safety of the un-experience hikers doing this trail.

From the upper trail fork the trail climb relatively steeply up for the next 0.3 mile, this will be 400ft climb. The trail is mainly sand and rocks so expect some exercise going up this section.

As you hike up look back as the view open. After short intensive walk you will cross few huge rock boulders and immediately after you will reach the Upper Emerald Pools.

From this place looks like you are surrounded from all directions by huge red-rock cliff walls closing from above.

Although visiting the lower and middle pools coming here was my first time.

This was an impressive view. It was late cold winter afternoon and with only 4 other people here.

We enjoy the serenity, water flow, the pool water reflection, for some time.

It start to get late, and we still need to walk back all the way to the trailhead, so we start to walk down.

From this point this is mainly downhill to the trailhead over 1.2 mile.

We did this hike during Dec 2024, and we can drive our car into the canyon, when we arrived the car, it was just after sunset.

When you are coming when the park shuttle system is in service make sure you are not missing the last shuttle ride.

This is highly recommended hike; you can combine it with one of the longer more intensive hikes in the park as Angel Landing or The Narrows or do this on your first hike in the park as a 2-3 hour hike.

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